134-63. Commencement of action; forms

(a) In order to seek an ex parte gun violence protective order or a one-year gun violence protective order, the petitioner shall file a written petition for relief on forms provided by the court. The court shall designate an employee or appropriate non-judicial agency to assist the petitioner in completing the petition.

(b) The petition shall allege, under penalty of perjury, the grounds for issuance of the order and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath or a statement made under penalty of perjury containing detailed allegations based on personal knowledge that the respondent poses a danger of causing bodily injury to the respondent’s self or another person by owning, purchasing, possessing, receiving, or having in the respondent’s custody or control any firearm or ammunition, and specific facts and circumstances in support thereof, as well as the number, types, and locations of any firearms or ammunition presently believed by the petitioner to be possessed or controlled by the respondent. The petition shall also state, if known to the petitioner, whether there is an existing restraining order or protective order in effect governing the respondent and whether there is any pending lawsuit, complaint, petition, or other action between the parties under the laws of this State. The judiciary shall verify the terms of any existing order governing the parties. The court shall not delay granting relief because of the existence of a pending action between the parties or the necessity of verifying the terms of an existing order. A petition for an ex parte gun violence protective order or a one-year gun violence protective order may be granted regardless of whether there is a pending action between the parties.

(c) All health records and other health information provided in a petition or considered as evidence in a proceeding under this part shall be sealed by the court, except that the identities of the petitioner and respondent may be provided to law enforcement agencies as set forth in section 134-69. Aggregate statistical data about the numbers of ex parte gun violence protective orders and one-year gun violence protective orders issued, renewed, denied, dissolved, or terminated shall be made available to the public upon request.

(d) Upon receipt of the petition, the court shall set a date for hearing on the petition within fourteen days, regardless of whether the court issues an ex parte gun violence protective order pursuant to section 134-64. If the court issues an ex parte gun violence protective order pursuant to section 134-64, notice of the hearing shall be served on the respondent with the ex parte order. Notice of the hearing shall be personally served on the respondent by an officer of the appropriate county police department.